Remodel, or move?

I was contacted recently by someone looking for 3D modeling and rendering services. He and his girlfriend had lived in their home for 13 years, and had done a number of upgrades to it. But they were at a point where the home’s floorplan configuration wasn’t working for them anymore. They wanted a larger family room and deck, an expanded first-floor master bedroom, bath, and walk-in closet, and a new main entry. They were debating between undertaking yet another major remodel/addition project versus selling and moving to a different house.

Proposed remodel floorplan drawn up by architect

Proposed remodel elevations drawn by architect

They had already consulted with an architect about their remodeling options, and he had done some nice drawings for them. But the clients were having trouble visualizing the changes from what the architect had drawn up (a floorplan and two exterior elevations). They asked the architect for 3D images, “like the ones we see on HGTV,” but the architect refused, saying he just didn’t do those. So they did an internet search and found my website.

Working from the architect’s drawings, plus photos of the current house, I was able to model the house in Chief Architect and produce some basic renderings of what the proposed modifications might look like.

Their place is an old farmhouse that has already been remodeled and added on to a number of times in its 100+ years, so there are numerous roof pitches and floor levels to contend with (always something of a modeling challenge). But I think the final images capture the essence of what the remodeled spaces would look like. Here are a few examples:

Front view with new entry

New entryway looking up

New family room looking towards kitchen and entryway

New bedroom with bath and walk-in closet

I haven’t yet heard whether this family has decided to go ahead with the remodel, or move to a new home. But at least with these 3D images in hand, they have more information to use while considering their decision.

One final note: The images I provided for this client are not high-end, photorealistic raytraces. These are just simple 3d renders to show the basic layout of the plans — sufficient for this stage of their decision-making. Detailed raytraces are more appropriate for the later stages of project planning, when trying to make decisions about final finishes, lighting, and decor.

Once upon a time you could sell a house no matter what it looked like. Now folks want a HUGE price cut for a home that has not been updated. SO… it is almost like a seller has no choice.

Dr.K you are very correct about the images that you did for the folks considering a remodel. Many of my clients just want to get an idea of the “space” and the basic Chief renderings do the trick.

I find that the clients who want the big guns photo-real raytraces are those that intend to use them to sell a project, like condos or high end homes. For this reason, I price out all projects with photo real rendering and without.

Chris, that was true for me with my last house. But I found that the more remodeling work I did on the house, the less I wanted to move!!

Kay, that’s a very smart way to do your pricing. What I told these clients was that if they decided to go ahead with the remodel, then we could work on the photoreal raytraces of any rooms where they wanted to see more realistic detail or lighting.

I think these folks may be in the situation you describe of realizing that they need to upgrade to be able to sell at a decent price. But around here the home prices are so reasonable (i.e., low) that it’s hard to make back what you put into a remodel.

I know what you mean Kathy…we really really like our kitchen. And, I keep coming up with ideas that will make other rooms so “cool”….but, do I want to do it in this house? 🙂 I plan to do a coffered ceiling in the dining room, built-ins in the dining room, built-ins in the living room, a new bathroom downstairs, remodel the 2nd floor bath, and remodel all 5 bedrooms….(hey, that’s pretty much every room in the house). AND, I plan to put a new deck on the back, and update the side porch to a concrete floor (it’s T&G planks now – but they’re a bit rotted)….I am even considering buying the house next store just to tear it down and give us more land… 😉

I agree with Kay. Some of my builders (those that are in it for construction documents) don’t rely on my renderings as much as those that are selling the design project to the homeowner. Creating a photo-rendeirng takes a lot more time than a simple rendering – and therefore can run the client nearly the same price as a fully detailed set of CD’s.

Those that want do both…well, I will keep them as clients for as long as I
can. 🙂